Chapter 10: Revenge
A twisted grin distorted his features. "You're not going to win this Aria" Rabadash growled, I rotated my sword in my wrist making it do a full circle. "Please Rabadash, you haven't won this tournament since you were fourteen" I growled as our swords clashed, he growled as he went for a stab only for me to deflect it. My thumb brushing the all familiar clasp as my sword separated. "Two swords aren't going to help you Aria" he mocked, "then why haven't you attacked Rabadash? Scared?" I taunted him back, his eyes narrowed as he attacked.
I jumped to the side knocking his sword away as my other came down on his back cutting right through his chain mail. He spun around to protect his exposed back only for me to attack again as I backed him up. Swiping for an attack at his feet he jumped out of the way only to trip as his sword went scurrying away. Blood dripped from my cheek at the earlier attack.
With one sword I pierced his arm keeping him to the ground. He looked back up at me startled. "You really should have thought twice before hurting him" I growled rotating my sword for a better angle before I brought it down towards his stomach. "Aria!" Father's harsh voice cut through the air, I froze, my sword tip just piercing the cloth shirt he wore over his chainmail. I didn't move, rage battling within me for the injuries he caused Peter. I clenched my jaw, I so badly wanted to gut him right here. "Aria!" Father called again, his tone harsher. I turned to look at him, still holding my sword ready to gut him.
Father's cold eyes were staring me down, commanding me to stop before I felt a metal clad hand suddenly nail my cheek. I stumbled to the side completely taken by surprise. Rabadash ripped the sword out of his arm before spinning it in his hand about to attack me as I sat on my ass staring at him in shock only for a red tailed arrow fly just above my head nailing Rabadash in his shoulder. Mind you the shoulder that held the sword. We both looked over to see Susan standing there with her bow drawn and another arrow ready to fire. In an instant Peter was in front of me with his sword out. Rabadash glared at me before taking a step back tossing my sword down at my feet. "One day your friend's won't be here to protect you Princess" he growled before walking out of the stadium.
Peter's arm tensed around my waist, I held onto it as his elbow pressed into my ribs. I rested my face into the back of his shoulder as I tried to collect myself. "You all right?" He questioned me, I nodded. "Yeah I just need a minute" I told him and he nodded. "Well let's get you that minute out of the public eye" Peter suggested and I nodded my agreement. He stood up sheathing his sword before offering me his hand. I took it as he pulled me onto my feet, keeping one arm around me, his hand hooked on my back. His free hand holding my own as he pulled me into a spare tent on the outside of the stadium.
Father and the rest of the rulers of Narnia quickly made their way in. Father pulled me onto my feet and into a hug. "Are you all right?" He questioned, "I would have better if you let me gut the bastard" I growled at him. "Don't even start that with me!" Father growled only for Cor and Corin suddenly burst into the tent hugging me. "Are you all right?" They questioned and I nodded. "I'm fine, all thanks to Queen Susan and High King Peter here" I told them. The two boys looked up at Susan. Cor instantly jumped on her, hugging her tightly around the middle. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Cor shouted while Corin just shook his head and shook Peter's hand.
"I think you should rest now Aria" Father told me. I bit my tongue. "Fine" I growled letting go of Corin and stormed out of the tent but instead of going to my room I went to the coral. Leaning against I watched Demetrius grazing. "I wish I was a horse" I muttered kicking the coral post. "Well you would look a little ridiculous in that dress if you were a horse" Peter chuckled leaning against the coral next to me. I couldn't help but grin. "So why do you wish you were a horse?" He questioned, "it's an easier life." I replied. "All you have to do is stand there look pretty and snack on some grass." I chuckled. Peter bent over picking up a blade of grass. "Well there you go" he chuckled.
"Peter!" I groaned shoving him. He laughed, "What?" He questioned innocently. I rolled my eyes looking back out at Demetrius. "You might want to be a horse but it comes with a price" he told me. I raised an eyebrow, "for starters you have to deal letting people ride you, and kicking you in the sides, and besides do you really want other's controlling what you do every single day at any time of the day?" He questioned, "how is that any different then now?" I questioned him.
He chuckled, "then come back to Narnia with me" he told me. I furrowed my eyebrows. "But I'll be coming this summer" I told him, "yeah and I've gotten used to seeing your face every day and I fear I won't do well without seeing it for that unfortunate amount of time" he smiled running his fingers along my injured cheek. I cringed slightly as his thumb ran over the cut. "You should really have Lucy heal that for you" he said softly. I shook my head, "I kind of like it, my own personal battle scars" I giggled, he chuckled with me before his hand held my neck as he leaned in.
My breath caught in my throat as his lips came closer. I could feel the heat radiating off him only for him to turn his head slightly at the last second as his lips burned my cheek. Right over my scratch. I closed my eyes softly. "And already my heart aches for you" he whispered resting his forehead against my temple. I gripped his shirt as I tried to control my breathing. My knees had suddenly given out on me. "Why must you tease me so?" I whispered to him. He pulled his forehead away as I opened my eyes, they met his baby blues and once again I had that feeling of drowning.
I had dreamt of kissing him, and now that I found myself here I didn't have the nerve to do it. It was just two inches and I just couldn't seem to cross them. I quickly looked down breaking the unofficial staring contest. He sighed, a little disappointed by my actions I was sure. I'm such an idiot! He wanted me to kiss him, I know he did and I went and chickened out. He kissed my forehead softly. "Will you please think about it?" He questioned softly. "I'll talk to father" I consented, "good because it's dinner time" he smiled offering me his arm. I took it as we quickly made our way inside.
Peter's POV
"Why is Aria avoiding you?" Susan questioned me after dinner. Aria had spent the evening thus far avoiding my eye contact as she whispered back and forth with her father. "Is it that obvious?" I questioned her and she gave me a know it all expression. I sighed, "I sort of kissed her cheek this afternoon and asked her to come home with us two days from now." I confessed, her eyebrows raised. "Should we send out an official courting announcement?" Susan teased me. "Very funny" I growled at her. "So she said no then?" Susan questioned, "I didn't ask her" I told her. "And why not? Especially if you've kissed her" Susan questioned, "I kissed her cheek Susan" I told her. "So you were already there so why didn't you kiss her properly?" Susan questioned, "because she broke eye contact before I could" I told her and she nodded.
"That explains why she's avoiding you" Susan sighed and I nodded. "Well then this note wouldn't interest you then will it?" Susan questioned me, I looked over at her sharply. "What note?" I questioned her, she easily held my hand pressing the note in question into the palm. "That note" she smiled before quickly walking away. I grinned and found a more secluded spot to read my note.
'Meet me at our spot. ~A'
I slipped the note back into my pocket and made my way out to the gardens, catching Aria's eye as I did. I waiting next to the wildflowers till she finally showed up. Her small hand resting on my forearm alerted me to her presence. I looked over at her, a smile stretching across my face. It was a uncontrollable reaction. She looked pensive as she watched the wild flowers dance in the wind.
"He said no?" I questioned her, she smiled softly but nodded. "Yes, he thinks it's best if I wait a few weeks before visiting Narnia. To keep the court and my people from talking" she said softly. "Talking about what?" I questioned her playing dumb. She gave me a look. "Like you don't know" she chuckled. I smiled, I knew people were starting to talk ever since she had given me her sash.
"I'm going to miss you" I whispered, she looked up at me. "Don't. It won't be long before we see each other again. Just in the meantime don't forget me?" She questioned, I smiled letting my thumb run over her shoulder. "Never going to happen" I promised her. She smiled softly before turning all the way to hug me. Her hands slowly tightening on the fabric across my shoulder blades. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, hugging her to my chest.
"Promise me summer will come quickly" I whispered. "I promise Peter" she whispered. It felt so good to hear her say my name like that. It just seemed to roll right off her tongue naturally, as if she was meant to say my name like that. I slowly rocked her from side to side following the music that was drifting towards us. "Two weeks, and we'll be dancing like this again" she whispered against my chest.
We sat together on a bench watching the moon slowly make it's way across the sky. "Want to know what a sailor once told me?" She questioned me and I nodded. She took my hand, folding my fingers down but keeping my thumb up as she held it up to the sky. "No matter where you are in the world the moon is never bigger than your thumb." She smiled, "no way" I told her and she nodded. "See" she smiled holding up her own thumb. "So even when we're apart, it's like we're still right next to each other." She smiled up at me. I smiled down at her rubbing the scratch on her cheek. I watched her jugular quicken under her the light tan coloring of her skin. I inched closer to her lips only to hear Lucy's shout. "Peter! Aria! Come on! You're missing the dance!" She shouted happily. "Yeah Aria come on!" Corin snickered, she groaned letting her head fall. "Coming!" She called up to them before standing up and brushing her skirts out. I stood up as well taking her hand and leading her back up the small patch of stairs to the dancing hall.
"Another thing about Cair Paravel, no interruptions."
The young couple's laughter echoed down into the gardens, neither noticing the tanned dark haired figure rubbing his right shoulder. "We'll get them back for this cousin" a feminine voice behind him comforted. "And I'll make sure to rip his heart out this time." He growled clenching his hand over his sword.